Concetti Chiave
- Charles I was an avid art collector, amassing one of Europe's greatest collections while ruling without Parliament under the divine right of kings.
- The English Civil War began when Charles I clashed with Parliament over power, leading to the Long Parliament and eventual conflict.
- The rise of the Commonwealth marked the end of the Civil War, with the Parliamentarians defeating the Royalists and executing Charles I.
- Under Cromwell's rule, England became a republic with puritanical laws, abolishing the House of Lords and enforcing strict social norms.
- The monarchy was restored in 1660 when Charles II was invited back from France after Cromwell's death, ending the Commonwealth period.
Charles I and his art collection
James' son, Charles I, was very interested in art and created one of Europe's greatest art collections. He married Henrietta Maria, the Catholic daughter of the King of France. Like his father he ruled without Parliament under the divine right of the king, but he needed to ask to Parliament for money, so when they refused to give him money he elected the so-called Long Parliament, which also reflected the change in wealth that England had. Only when the Parliament tried to obtain power over the king, this last one killed five of his opponents and declared war, the Civil War had begun.
The rise of the Commonwealth
This struggle, which took place between 1642 and 1649, was fought by Royalists (which represented the Stuart absolutism and the aristocracy) and the Parlamentarians, also called Roundheads because they considered sinful to have long hair so they cut theirs short (which represented the middle class). The Parlamentarian army was stronger, with professional soldiers, better armed and equipped and good trained, so that Charles I was captured and condemned to death
Cromwell's rule and the restoration
Here, the Parliament declared a republic, the Commonwealth. The House of Lords was abolished and Cromwell took the power. Parliament's army was used for a campaign of repression which culminated in the slaughter of the citizens of Drogheda. He divided the country in 11 regions and adopted puritan rules, like the execution for adultery. Dances, games, theatre performances were banned and pubs and theatres were closed. In 1651 Parliament had passed the Navigation Acts, giving a sort of monopoly of trade to British ships. When Cromwell died in 1658, the army decided to invide Charles II, King of Scotland and Charles I's son, to come back from France and so the monarchy was restored
Domande da interrogazione
- How did Charles I's interest in art influence his reign?
- What changes did Cromwell implement during his rule, and how did they affect England?
Charles I was passionate about art and amassed one of Europe's greatest art collections. His reign, however, was marked by conflict with Parliament, as he ruled by divine right and sought funds from Parliament, leading to tensions and eventually the Civil War.
Cromwell's rule saw the establishment of the Commonwealth, the abolition of the House of Lords, and the division of England into 11 regions with puritanical laws. He banned dances, games, and theatre, and closed pubs and theatres, significantly altering English society until the monarchy was restored with Charles II.
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